Aggie offensive standouts confident before Miami matchup

Running back Rueben Owens and offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover have been through some tough times at Texas A&M. Wideouts KC Concepcion and Mario Craver have only been around for the good times. But all of them are fired up for the chance to play at home in round one of the College Football Playoff.

“I’m really excited to be here. I mean, this opportunity only comes a while because there’s a lot of good teams in the nation, but I’m glad that me and my boys were able to get it done for the 12th Man and for us,” Owens said Monday.

Owens and Crownover came to A&M under Coach Jimbo Fisher and endured the embarrassment of 2023 and last year’s late season collapse in Mike Elko’s first season. Their patience has paid off, however, with a shot at the sport’s biggest prize this season.

“My freshman year to now, things weren’t the best, you know. But I’d say most of us stuck together, we stayed at A&M, and then we just believed in Coach Elko and what he wanted to do. And then it all worked out,” Owens said. “Year two, we’re in the playoff.”

Texas A&M (11-1) enjoyed a banner year offensively, finishing 20th in total offense and 14th in scoring offense, averaging 36.3 points per game. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed had a breakout season, throwing for 2,932 yards, rushing for 466 more and racking up a combined 31 touchdowns. Reed’s teammates said his development this season has been rapid.

“Marcel, he’s grown a lot. He’s become more of a vocal leader. I’d say in the beginning of the season he really wasn’t that,” Craver said. “I think he’s gained a lot of confidence. He knows he’s the guy, and we’re ready to play behind him.”

Owens, who is one of Reed’s closest friends on the team, said he has watched his quarterback make huge leaps forward since their arrival in 2023.

“So with me coming in with Marcel, from freshman year to now, Marcel has gotten way more mature. He knows ball more now than he did before,” Owens said.

Texas A&M’s Saturday opponent, Miami (10-2), has one of the nation’s toughest run defenses, giving up less than 87 yards per game. The Aggies, on the other hand, have rushed for just under 193 yards per game, making for a potential slugfest in the trenches.

“As an offensive line, we know what we have to do. We have to know our job. We have to know the game plan. I think as long as we go into the game and execute the game plan that our coaches have given us, I think we’ll be perfectly fine,” Crownover said.

Owens, who led the team in rushing this season with 618 yards (5.5 yards per carry), said he has faith in his offensive line to open holes as they have all season.

“I know my guys, they’re ready for the challenge,” he said. “It’s been like that (facing tough rush defenses) a couple games. Mizzou game, they said they had a good run defense and we put up over 200 rushing yards. So I just feel that we just align, do our assignment, put effort in, we’ll get the job done.”

Craver, who was a finalist for the Belitnikoff Award for the nation’s top receiver after catching 52 passes for 825 yards and 4 touchdowns, has been hampered by injuries during the last third of the season. He said Monday that he’s back to 100% and ready to go against the Hurricanes.

“Me getting back to 100 percent and back to my full speed is going to help this offense a lot, and this team knows that, all my teammates know that,” he said. “I’m glad to be back out there at 100%.”

The matchup with the Miami secondary looks like an even one, with the Aggies averaging 262 yards per game through the air (32nd nationally) while Miami gives up 191 yards per game on average (30th nationally).

“They’re very physical and they’re great in the back half. I look forward to this matchup,” Craver said.

Concepcion, who won the Paul Hornung Trophy for the nation’s most versatile player and has garnered multiple All-American nods, led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns (56 catches, 886 yards, 9 TD) this season. He said Monday that, while the accolades are nice and a decision on entering the NFL Draft has to be made, he’s focused on the CFP alone right now.

“To me, the job is not finished. Me and my teammates, we still have our eyes set on the national championship. So whenever the season is over, I will sit back and think about all of that stuff. But for right now, we are focused on winning,” he said.

Even though Saturday’s game kicks off at 11 a.m. central time, each player said they thought the 12th Man would be as loud as ever.

“For a playoff game, Kyle Field, it’s going to be electric. And I already know, even though it will be an 11 a.m. kickoff, it’ll still be turnt up in there,” Owens said.

Concepcion concurred.

“Whenever I had first got here, my first game was crazy. I’ve never seen anything like that. And then we have a playoff game here? I already know that it’s going to be crazy. It’s gonna be amazing,” he said.

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